Vessel

ABSTRACT

A system and method transporting fluids with a pitcher. The pitcher includes one or more pitcher walls disposed about a void having a floor at a base region and an open top at a rim. The pitcher has a handle mounted on the wall or one of the walls. The pitcher also has a hollow shoe set into the base region which includes a sole plate at a base. It further includes one or more spaced-apart shoe walls an open rim, the sole plate disposed at an angle to drain water it a shoe drain which is configured to extend through one of the shoe walls.

PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to Australian Provisional Number AU2015904096 filed Oct. 8, 2015, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The present technology relates generally to vessels for transporting fluids from place to place. The vessel is particularly advantageous when it is jug- or pitcher-sized. That is, it is large enough to hold several glasses of fluid and small enough to be held by one hand and used in hotel, club, club and bar environments—that is to say, in hospitality generally.

Description of Related Art

In a bar environment, customers commonly order pitchers of beer, water, juice or soft drink. Upon receiving an order, a bartender pours fluid from a keg faucet or a bar gun into a pitcher-sized vessel.

Known pitchers have been found to be useful in transporting the poured fluid from the bar to a customer's table, but they have limitations.

For example, during the pour, the bartender usually tips the pitcher at an angle to reduce the amount of froth that is generated by pouring the carbonated drink. Tipping the pitcher is ergonomically difficult and can result in spillage.

Furthermore, pitchers have been found to have limitations in stackability. This can reduce the efficiency with which the pitchers can be collected after use at the table and hence the time between refilling with another order.

Another limitation is that known pitchers have structural features which limit drainage, making washing and draining, particularly in washing machines, a very labour-intensive activity. This is because the lack of drainage features extend the time between refilling pitchers with a fresh charge of fluid and makes handling recently-washed pitchers dangerous because of the retention of hot water in various crevices about the vessel.

Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a solution that avoids or ameliorates any of the disadvantages present in the prior art, or which provides another alternative to the prior art approaches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present technology provides a fluid transport vessel which includes a shoe drain to inhibit fluid collecting therein.

Broadly the present technology provides a pitcher with a shoe drain with an outlet that flows to a handle.

Broadly, the present technology provides a pitcher which includes a handle drain to inhibit fluid collecting in the handle.

Broadly the present technology provides a pitcher with at least one substantially flat side to facilitate the retention and viewing of a brand message attached to or printed on the substantially flat side.

Broadly the present technology provides a pitcher with substantially flat sides which slant outwardly from a base towards a rim so as to enhance stackability with corresponding pitchers.

Broadly the present technology provides a pitcher having an angled shoe plate so as to provide a gentle pour for a liquid together with a self-draining shoe when inverted.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pitcher for transporting fluid, the pitcher including:

-   -   one or more pitcher walls disposed about a void having a floor         at a base region and an open top at a rim;     -   a handle mounted on the wall or one of the walls; and     -   a hollow shoe set into the base region, which includes a sole         plate at a base, one or more spaced-apart shoe walls and an open         rim, the sole plate disposed at an angle to drain water into a         shoe drain which is configured to extend through one of the shoe         walls.

Definitions:

Shoe. It is to be understood that the shoe is a recess. The concept is interchangeable with a step for a mast of a boat.

Pitcher. It is to be understood that a pitcher is intended to mean the same kind of item as a jug.

Shoe

In one embodiment the sole plate is integral with the pitcher floor. In one embodiment the sole plate and pitcher floor are substantially the same element and thus have the same attitude. The pitcher floor is essentially the reverse face of the sole plate, such that while pouring a liquid into the pitcher, the liquid gently rolls down a wall of the void, and then gently down the angled floor plate, reducing bubbling and reducing excess “head” on the top of the liquid.

In one embodiment the shoe walls are integral with, and form extensions of, the pitcher walls.

In one embodiment the shoe drain is an aperture extending from an inlet on one side of one of the shoe walls to an outlet at the other so that water drains out of the shoe when the pitcher is inverted.

In one embodiment the shoe drain is a closed aperture, which is to say a hole.

In one embodiment the shoe drain is an open aperture, which is a slot extending from the sole plate to the shoe rim. In one embodiment the slot has parallel walls. In one embodiment the slot has edges that slant outwardly from one another toward the shoe rim so that the more water in the shoe, the faster the flow rate from the drain.

In one embodiment the arrangement is such that the shoe drain is disposed at a rear of the pitcher base. Of course the shoe drain could be disposed at any suitable portion of the shoe, but the rearward drain position provides advantages of a reduction in the likelihood of stains on a prominent pitcher wall.

In one embodiment the shoe drain is disposed at the centre of the shoe wall, but it may be equally effective if it is disposed in a side portion of the shoe wall.

In one embodiment the pitcher floor includes one or more lugs 3, 4 which are configured to cooperate with a base of another pitcher. The one or more lugs 3, 4 may be in the form of one or more bosses which are disposed on a portion of the floor and extend upwardly therefrom. The one or more lugs 3, 4 may be disposed at a junction of the floor and one wall, in one embodiment, the rear wall. Advantageously, the one or more lugs 3, 4 inhibit pitchers sticking together when stacked inside one another by reducing friction between walls, essentially inhibiting the walls from touching one another at more than one tangential point.

Walls

In one embodiment one or more of the pitcher and shoe walls are substantially flat so as to facilitate the retention and viewing of a brand message attached to or printed on the substantially flat wall. In one embodiment the flat sides provide prominent POS/Activations/Promotions as the large flat sides allow a brewer or venue to communicate large amounts of information where otherwise traditional POS would be required. Embodiments provide a strong communication tool that can be placed directly in the hands of the consumer where traditional POS is usually required and in most cases missed by the patrons.

In one embodiment the pitcher will be made of material that is BPA free polymer.

In one embodiment one or more of the walls include a slight curve outward or a slight bow about one or more axes so as to reduce scratching of an outer face on which a decal or message may be attached or printed.

In one embodiment a rear wall includes a spine in the form of a rib or a ridge, or channel or groove, so that fluid from the shoe drain may be transported therealong.

In one embodiment the spine is straight, but it may traverse a circuitous pathway, sinuous, or other irregular path.

In one embodiment the spine extends to the handle. In one embodiment the spine extends to a handle drain.

In one embodiment the rim is angled rearward toward the handle so as to reside in an angled rim plane. This is effective for easy pouring but also to cause the shoe drain to have a steeper angle to provide faster shoe draining when the pitcher is inverted.

In one embodiment the front wall includes a spout. In one embodiment the spout is disposed on the rim and the rim extends therearound. In one embodiment the spout rim is in the rim plane to improve stability when inverted.

In one embodiment the spout includes an underside surface which is angled toward the rim so as to facilitate water runoff. In one embodiment the spout is square in section to facilitate faster pouring.

In one embodiment the front wall is angled more acutely than the other walls so as to facilitate pouring. In one embodiment the front wall includes a crease or channel or groove or curve so as to channel liquid to the spout.

In one embodiment the walls are narrower at their base than at the rim so as to facilitate stacking.

Handle

In one embodiment the handle includes a stem portion that is mounted on the wall and extends therefrom. In one embodiment an upper face of the stem is in the rim plane to improve stability when the pitcher is inverted, for example when washing and drying.

In one embodiment the handle includes a grip portion extending from the stem.

In one embodiment the handle and stem are hollow shell bodies to improve strength and reduce mass. In one embodiment the shell is a channel-shaped section. In one embodiment the channel includes a base wall and two spaced-apart side walls. In one embodiment the stem base wall is in the pitcher rim plane and the grip base wall extends therefrom generally parallel with the rear pitcher wall.

In one embodiment the handle includes a handle drain which includes a drain aperture through a handle wall to transport water therethrough. In one embodiment drain aperture is through the base wall of the stem. In one embodiment the drain aperture is through the base wall of the grip.

In one embodiment the handle channel is open towards the shoe so as to receive any water from the shoe drain and then to drain through the handle drain.

In one embodiment the handle shell is configured to engage or cooperate with a handle shell from an adjacent pitcher when stacked therein, in an arrangement where the handles lock together to improve stability in a stack without scratching the walls of the pitcher.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pitcher from in front, above and one side;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the pitcher from underneath, in front and one side;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the pitcher from above, behind and one side;

FIG. 4 is a typical side elevation view of the pitcher showing hidden features in broken lines;

FIG. 5 is a typical side elevation view of the pitcher;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the pitcher;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the pitcher; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view from underneath of the pitcher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the Figures there is shown a fluid transport vessel generally indicated at 10. The fluid transport vessel 10 is in the form of a pitcher 11 having a shoe drain 20 to inhibit fluid collecting therein when the pitcher 11 is inverted for washing and drying.

The pitcher 11 includes one or more substantially flat pitcher walls 12 (front 13, sides 14, 15 and rear 16) disposed about a void 17 having a floor 18 at a base region and an open top at a pitcher rim 19. The walls are flat to reduce peel forces on a decal or paint applied thereto, and also so as to facilitate good viewing of the decal or brand message thereon. There is a slight outward bow provided on the walls to inhibit scratching of the decal or paint during stacking, since it gives a slight gap between each adjacent pitcher wall, and for increased wall stiffness and strength.

A handle 40 is mounted on rear wall 16 adjacent the rim 19 for facilitating carrying of the vessel from, say, bar to table. The handle 40 is hollow and formed in a shell or channel shape in cross-section, to reduce mass but to maintain stiffness, wherein it has a base handle wall 42 and two spaced apart handle side walls 43, 44.

As with known pitchers, pitcher 11 has a hollow shoe 50 (recess or step) set into the base region. The shoe 11 is so that the base can be made stable by providing a shoe rim that is in a flat plane, while the floor of the pitcher can be made suitable for fluid. The floor of known pitchers are round to reduce splashing of fluids poured into the pitcher. In this pitcher 11, the shoe 50 includes a substantially flat sole plate 52 at a shoe base, four spaced-apart shoe walls (13A, 14A, 15A and rear 16A) and an open rim 59. The sole plate 52 is substantially flat and disposed at an angle to the sole rim 59 and pitcher rim 19 so as to drain water into the shoe drain 20 when the pitcher 11 is inverted, but since the sole plate 52 is integral with the floor 18 of the pitcher, it too is substantially flat and in use runs fluid from the rear wall 16, gently down it and gently rolling along the substantially flat floor 18 (which is of course the underside of sole plate 52) and filling up from the lowest point, which is the front edge of the floor 18 adjacent the front wall 13. This arrangement reduces the head built up on beer and also the angle at which the pitcher 10 needs to be tilted to pour the beer.

The walls of the shoe are extensions of the pitcher walls, hence the nomenclature being the same but with an extension A (so 13-13A, 14-14A etc).

The shoe drain 20 includes a drain aperture 21 which extends through wall 16A. The aperture 21 extends from an inlet 22 on one side of shoe wall 16A to an outlet 23 at the other end of the wall 16A so that water drains out of the shoe 50 when the pitcher is inverted. The shoe drain 20 may be a closed aperture, which is to say a hole, but in the drawings, the shoe drain 20 is an open aperture, which is a slot 24 extending from the sole plate 52 to the shoe rim 59. The slot may have parallel walls, but in the figures the slot 24 has edges that slant outwardly from one another toward the shoe rim 59 so that the more water in the shoe, the faster the flow rate from the drain 20.

The arrangement of the pitcher 10 in the figures is such that the shoe drain 20 is disposed at a rear wall 16, 16A of the pitcher base. Of course the shoe drain 20 could be disposed at any suitable portion of the shoe, but the rearward drain position provides the advantage of a reduction in the likelihood of stains on a prominent pitcher wall (13, 14, 15).

There is provided a spine 60 on rear wall 16 in the form of a rib or a ridge 62, or channel or groove, so that fluid from the shoe drain 20 may be transported therealong. The spine 60 is straight as shown in the drawings, but it may traverse a circuitous pathway, sinuous, or other irregular path. It can be seen that the spine 60 extends to the handle and to a handle drain 70.

It can be seen from the drawings that the handle 40 includes a stem portion 46 that is mounted on wall 16 and extends therefrom. An upper face of the stem (base handle wall 42) is disposed substantially in the rim plane 19 to improve stability when the pitcher is inverted, for example when washing and drying. The handle 40 also includes a grip portion 48 extending from the stem portion 46.

As discussed above, the handle includes a handle drain 70 which includes a drain aperture 72 through the base wall 42 of the stem portion and also elongate so that it extends up to and through the base wall of the grip portion.

It can be seen from the drawings that the handle channel is open towards the shoe 50 so as to receive any water from the shoe drain 20 and then to drain it through the handle drain 70. The handle hides any stain which may occur from residue which may remain on wall 16, and the spine 60 tends to minimise its impact area.

Advantageously, the handle shell being open at the base facilitates the engagement or at least cooperation with a handle shell from an adjacent pitcher when stacked therein, in an arrangement where the handles lock together to improve stability in a stack without scratching the walls of the pitcher.

It can be seen that the rim 19 is angled rearward toward the handle so as to reside in an angled rim plane. This is effective for easy pouring but also to cause the shoe drain to have a steeper angle to provide faster shoe draining when the pitcher is inverted.

Furthermore it can be seen that the front wall 13 includes a spout 80. The spout 80 is disposed on the rim 19 and the rim extends therearound. The spout rim is in the rim plane to improve stability when inverted.

The spout 80 includes an underside surface which is angled toward the rim so as to facilitate water runoff; the spout being square in section to facilitate faster pouring.

The front wall 13 is angled more acutely than the other walls so as to facilitate pouring. The front wall 13 also includes a crease 13B or channel or groove or curve so as to channel liquid to the spout 80. The walls 12 are narrower at their base than at the rim so as to facilitate stacking.

Advantages

The pitcher 11 has many safety features to facilitate the draining of hot water from structural features while it is inverted, say, in a dishwasher and after being washed in the dishwasher. Some of these features include that the shoe drain 20 flows to the hollow handle 40, which itself has a handle drain 70 to inhibit water buildup in the hollow handle. Also, a spout 80 is a channel-shape for fast pouring, and a base wall of the spout is disposed at an angle towards a pitcher rim 18 to facilitate water runoff.

Advantageously, the pitcher 11 has at least one substantially flat side wall 14, 15 to facilitate the retention and viewing of a brand message attached to or printed on the substantially flat side.

The pitcher 11 has substantially flat sides which slant outwardly from a base towards a rim so as to enhance stackability with corresponding pitchers, and a further feature to enhance this ability is that the shoe walls are extensions of the pitcher walls.

In addition, the pitcher 10 advantageously has an angled shoe plate so as to provide a gentle pour for a liquid integral, with a self-draining sole plate for a self-draining shoe when inverted.

In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term “comprising” has the non-exclusive meaning of the word, in the sense of “including at least” rather than the exclusive meaning in the sense of “consisting only of”. The same applies with corresponding grammatical changes to other forms of the word such as “comprise”, “comprises” and so on.

It will be apparent that obvious variations or modifications may be made which are in accordance with the spirit of the invention and which are intended to be part of the invention, and any such obvious variations or modifications are therefore within the scope of the invention. 

1. A pitcher for transporting fluid, the pitcher including: one or more pitcher walls disposed about a void having a floor at a base region and an open top at a rim; a handle mounted on the wall or one of the walls; and a hollow shoe set into the base region, which includes a sole plate at a base, one or more spaced-apart shoe walls and an open rim, the sole plate disposed at an angle to drain water into a shoe drain which is configured to extend through one of the shoe walls.
 2. The pitcher of claim 1, wherein the sole plate is integral with the pitcher floor.
 3. The pitcher of claim 1, wherein the shoe walls are integral with, and form extensions of, the pitcher walls.
 4. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein the shoe drain is an aperture extending from an inlet on one side of one of the shoe walls to an outlet at the other so that water drains out of the shoe when the pitcher is inverted.
 5. The pitcher of claim 1 the shoe drain is a slot extending from the sole plate to the shoe rim.
 6. The pitcher of claim 5 one embodiment the slot has edges that slant outwardly from one another toward the shoe rim so that the more water in the shoe, the faster the flow rate from the drain.
 7. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein the arrangement is such that the shoe drain is disposed at a rear of the pitcher base.
 8. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein or more of the pitcher and shoe walls are substantially flat so as to facilitate the retention and viewing of a brand message attached to or printed on the substantially flat wall.
 9. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein one or more of the walls include a slight curve outward or a slight bow about one or more axes so as to reduce scratching of an outer face on which a decal or message may be attached or printed.
 10. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein a rear wall includes a spine in the form of a rib or a ridge, or channel or groove, so that fluid from the shoe drain may be transported therealong, the spine extending to a handle drain.
 11. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein a spout is disposed on the rim and the rim extends therearound, the spout rim being disposed in the rim plane to improve stability when inverted.
 12. The pitcher of claim 11 wherein the spout includes an underside surface which is angled toward the rim so as to facilitate water runoff.
 13. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein the front wall is angled more acutely than the other walls so as to facilitate pouring, the angle in the front wall forming a crease or channel or groove or curve so as to channel liquid to the spout.
 14. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein the walls are narrower at their base than at the rim so as to facilitate stacking.
 15. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein the handle is a hollow shell body to improve strength and reduce mass, the shell being a channel-shaped section, which includes a base wall and two spaced-apart side walls.
 16. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a stem and a grip region extending therefrom, wherein the stem extends substantially away from a rear wall on which it is mounted, and a base wall of the stem is disposed in the pitcher rim plane and the grip base wall extends therefrom generally parallel with the rear pitcher wall.
 17. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a handle drain which includes a drain aperture through a handle wall to transport water therethrough.
 18. The pitcher of claim 15 wherein the handle shell is configured to engage or cooperate with a handle shell from an adjacent pitcher when stacked therein, in an arrangement where the handles lock together to improve stability in a stack without scratching the walls of the pitcher.
 19. The pitcher of claim 1 wherein the floor includes one or more lugs extending upwardly therefrom which are configured to cooperate with a base of another pitcher.
 20. The pitcher of claim 19 wherein the one or more lugs are one or more bosses disposed at a junction of the floor and one wall. 